In the last weeks of pregnancy, young mothers begin to excitedly wait for the moment the baby is born. How to understand that labor has begun? The beginning of the generic process has its own characteristic features.
Instructions
Step 1
The belly sinks. From about the 36th week of pregnancy, a woman begins to notice that her stomach drops down, it becomes easier to breathe, digestive problems disappear, in particular, heartburn passes, as the child stops pressing on the internal organs.
Step 2
Back hurts. Pulling pain in the lower back also indicates that childbirth is near. Exercises for the pelvis and back can relieve pain.
Step 3
Swelling and convulsions appear. When the belly drops down, the child begins to press on the blood vessels of the pelvis, which causes more frequent cramps and edema.
Step 4
False contractions are also harbingers of childbirth. They are pulling pains in the lower abdomen with irregular intervals between them. False contractions do not cause the cervix to dilate.
Step 5
Discharge of the mucous plug. A mucous plug (a clot of mucus that blocks the entrance to the uterus) may come off before delivery or may gradually come out over the 2 weeks before labor begins. If there is a mucous discharge with blood, this means that labor has begun.
Step 6
Water discharge. Amniotic fluid leaves when the cervix is already half open. The fetal bladder can burst without discomfort - without pain and spasms. If you suspect that you are leaking water, you should immediately call an ambulance. If the waters have moved away, this means that labor has begun.
Step 7
And finally, the beginning of the contractions. The main feature of real labor pains is the frequency. They begin with short-term spasms, repeating at first every 15-20 minutes, and then becoming more frequent and becoming more painful. During labor, the cervix opens and the baby moves through the birth canal.
Step 8
If you find at least a few signs of the onset of labor, you should immediately call an ambulance and go to the maternity hospital.
